All smiles for athletes at Special Olympics

The Special Olympics were created in 1968 by pioneer Eunice Kennedy Shriver to give its athletes a place to compete, learn and make friends, regardless of anything that they might have to overcome.

Each event is unique in its own right. Athletes, coaches and volunteers, among many other friends and family members, work to make each competition special for the athletes, and Saturday’s track meet at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School was no different.

One hundred and twenty athletes of all ages came from Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Lehigh, and Lebanon counties to compete in the track meet. Among them was 26-year-old Tarre Apreala from Allentown, running for Lehigh.

Prounounced “Tah-ree,” as he would happily tell anyone who walked by him, Apreala had much to say about the event.

“I love the pureness,” he said. “The competition. I like to talk to people, to socialize with people, and I love to make friends.”

He continued, “It’s pure sports. There are no lockouts, no CBA, no controversy, just pure sports.”

Apraela engaged in nearly anyone that walked past him, talking and joking with many volunteers and encouraging and congratulating athletes, regardless of the team they were on.

Apraela’s Buddy for the event, Joyce Cipollini, said that that type of interaction was nice to see. “He did a fabulous job,” she said about him. “He made everyone feel very welcome. His teammates and any new person that came into his vicinity, he was very cordial and very welcoming to them.”

Ami Kramer, Apraela’s coach, who is in her first year of coaching for the Special Olympics, has found the experience very rewarding. “I love it. It’s wonderful,” she said. “Everyone’s gathered together and it’s a great thing to watch a gathering like this and help the kids.”

“It’s a lot of fun, actually. They want to do everything,” she said of the athletes. “They know a lot of people, they’re very enthusiastic and they’ve been practicing a long time to do this.

Kramer was paired with 12-year-old Heidi Griesemer. Although she didn’t have as much to say as Apraela did, when prompted by Kramer, she said she enjoyed running, being with people, her coach, and the bubbles from the fun tent run by Drexel University’s chapter of the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority in particular.

Jessica Vanderkooi, a sophomore at Drexel, who was in charge of Alpha Sigma Alpha’s involvement at the event, talked about how rewarding it is to give back.

“It’s incredible,” she said. “Being in school, you don’t get the opportunity to give back a lot, because you’re so focused in your studies.”

She continued, “Having the opportunity to take a break from school and your social life and see these incredible athletes, it’s inspiring.”

Kramer felt the same way. When asked about what’s the most rewarding thing about working with the Special Olympics, she paused for a moment to gather her thoughts.

After several seconds, she began to answer before she looked to her right and pointed towards Griesemer locked in an embrace with another member of her team and said, “That’s the most important thing, when they hug their buddies and when we cheer them on.”

“It’s a great feeling, watching them smile, and maybe even win. It’s been great.”